New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-01
on tho glass case before him with ono contempt

pastev
80 Paste echoed. impossible. =
~ Certainly paste, and very good imitation
he replied, turning away.
"My heart sank within me- Eighty pounds was
a sum could I'll afford to lose. II meant a sum-
mary end to my holidays not to speak OF en-
barrassments that would last some time.
"With a faint hope that the second expert had
been mistaken took the ring to the jeweller VINO
had offered tho American three thousand francs
for it.
ale seemed pleased 10 see me. but as soon as he
had glanced at the ring his face changed.
"' This is not the same ring you showed me
yesterday he said In tone that made 1t plain
that he thought meant to cheat him. AT least,
he added, it is not the same stone. This Is not
stone OF all II is paste
$50 I have been told said sadly. Are you
sure the jewel 1 showed you yesterday was
genuine diamond !?
at am certain of it, he answered.
1.-THE honorable conduct las had thought u
Of the stranger in refusing to sell 20 the Jeweher
now Ineligible. The jeweller meant to Keep
the real stone. 1t was not difficult DO see how the
fraud had been managed The swindler had had
two rings made exactly alike Of a striking and
peculiar pattern. In one of them he had placed
genuine and very fine diamond. This was be
decoy. In the other he had put false diamond
closely resembling in size and shape the genuine
ono in the first ring The one he wore and ofiereo
to sell was the true stone. When Ire got II back
from the eweller he had kept it and had given me
the sham one in exchange for my eighty pounds
What was / to do ?
"1he first thing was to ascertain whether my
friend had left the hotel. OF course he had--on
the afternoon Of the previous day: STILL the scent
was so hot. fancied should have little diff
Guilty in tracing him. But when / found him my
difficulties would only begin. OF course he would
swear that he had sold me the ring with the stone
which the ieweler had declared TO be genuine
might, conceivablv, have substituted paste Tor
the true gem well as he In any case, when
Thought Of the difficulty of getting back my money
from an American wandering about Europe my
heart sank within me. Even If the police con-
sonted to help me. taking my word against his
even il tho rogue were convicted how was 10 re-
cover the two Thousand francs?
"These thoughts passed through my mind as
hurried back to the hotel Certainly the prospect
gloomy enough.
II easily ascertained that tho American had
taken the train for Paris the day before, and l
determined to follow him Mt once. l did not
despair of finding him, rs he would probably put
up at one of the good hotels.
"On the way up to Paris I could think of
nothing but my loss. This fellow l saw had hit
upon a very safe and profitable method OF swind-
ling. In nine cases Out of ten the cheated man
would not discover his loss for years after he had
the last Of the American, IT, indeed, the trick
was discovered at all for the paste was quite
good enough to deceive casual observer, and the
owner would, Of course he actuatcd by profound
not been for the incident of my finding the ring
case, which the rogue had accidentally dropped,
should in all probability have unwittingly cheated
poor TIrenne out Of his money and he might
afterward have been supposed 10 be trying to
palm off a spurious diamond for real gem. In
all probability the fellow made living-and a
very good one-by going about Europe and prac-
Using this trick
"This idea sent of my thoughts on new track,
and by the time had arrived in Paris had de-
cided my course of action.
i"First of all 1 made careful inquiries at the
railway station as to q tall American who had
arrived at Nice by q certain train on preceding
day; and, by the help Of some fve-franc pieces,
l found the cabman who had driv IN him to his
hotel-tho Continental.
This being ascertained chose a quiet. unpre'
tending hotel for myself near of the railway
stations Then I emptied the contents of q light
bag on my bed, and taking it empty in my hand,
went to q theatrical cOstumers and saying L In
tended to take part in some private theatricals' J
hired the costume of q French able. 1t was
part had often played in piece that had
pretty long run in London some eight years ago.
and I had little doubt that l would be able TO
acquit myself in it fairly well.l l got the proper
dress, wig, powder and everything complete, and
having put all the articles into my bag went to
one of the railway stations and took a return
ticket for station little way out in the country
ITO my disgust 1 found it impossible to get
compartment to myself the train was too crowded
but / reflected that the trair; returning TO Paris
would probably be much less crowded in the at.
ternoon than those going into the country.
In this supposition was right. hung about
the suburban railway station till a return train
was about TO start IL was nearly empty. and
douceur to the guard secured me the privacy i
needed. By the time l returned to Paris 1 was
stout, benevolent looking French priest, in
comfortable circumstances. My suit Of tweeds
had placed in my bag, which l took care to
leave at the railway station. Then l made the
best of my way to the Hotel Continental
II was just in time for the table d'hotc, and
as took my seat l noticed with great satisfaction
that my transatlantic friend sitting not very
far off, and that he had not a suspicion Of my
identity. Nothing, knew, could be done until
after dinner, l waited through the tedious
procession Of courses as patiently as l could and
when at last they came to an end, followed the
American and little group Of men who sur
rounded him to the smoking room 1t was not
exactly the place for priest, but could not
help that.
Il sat down by little round table near the
American. but slightly behind him, so as TO be
able to hear the conversation without Joining in
ii unless wished From time to time l offered
a remark, speaking, Of course, in French, TO the
man who sat next me, but for the most part ]
smoked my cigar and slipped my coffee in silence.
"As I expected, it not long before dia-
mohds became the subject Of conversation.
Il don't know much about diamonds myself,
said the American, speaking In his native tongue
but Pm told by good judges that thar's about
good stone youn anywhere round
almost exactly the phrases l said TO myself
which the fellow used DO me at NiccD
You kin take look at it, nc added care
lessly, drawing off the ring and handing it to one
Of the group 1 bent forward as to more
clearly what was going One after another
the men who were sitting near examined and ad.
mired the ring. The man next me the last
TO look at it,
I" "A friend hev at Bucnos Ayres sent it to me
and had it cut myself said the American.
AT this point noticed that my neighbor
had finished his examination Of the diamond.
and touched him, intimating that too would
like to have look at it. lie handed it to me
as q matter of course
1T was the very ring which had been exhibit.